Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) will conduct the Women’s Edition of the Maldives Travel Conference 2025 in Addu City this year.
According to MATATO, the conference is scheduled for 25 January. The event will take place at the Equator Village in Gan, Addu City, as part of MATATO’s ongoing efforts to empower women in the tourism sector.
The conference is a collaborative initiative with the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Visit Maldives, Addu City Council, the National Hotels and Guest House Association of Maldives as well as other organisations dedicated to women’s development.
Women-focused associations such as Women in Management Maldives, Women on Boards, and the Women Entrepreneurs Association will take part in the conference. MATATO said the keynote speaker and panelists at the event will be women.
The conference will address two key topics. Discussions will center around the opportunities for women in Addu City, and changing negative societal attitudes towards women who work to earn an income. The conference will also discuss the misconception that tourism jobs are limited to resorts.
A financial literacy training session, organised by Business Centre Corporation (BCC), will be held as part of the conference. This free session, aimed at women, is open for registration until 20 January via MATATO’s website.
Since 2024, MATATO has been working to empower women in the tourism sector through its Maldives Travel Conference Women’s Edition Initiative. This year’s conference in Addu City will be the such conference to be held, with further conferences scheduled to be held in May in Thoddoo, Alifu Alifu Atoll, and August in Male’.